Jepara: Islands, Coast and Culture
Accommodation in Jepara
Jepara offers a wide range of travel experiences: islands in the Java Sea, beaches, traditional crafts and historic sites. When choosing your accommodation, the first thing to consider is which experiences you want to focus on. A trip involving an island crossing calls for different points of reference than an exploration of Jepara’s museums, villages and coastal destinations.
Island Nature and Routes Across the Water
The Kepulauan Karimunjawa lie around 90 kilometres north of Jepara and comprise 27 islands in the Java Sea. They are in Kabupaten Jepara; part of the area belongs to Karimunjawa National Park. Mangrove forests, coastal forests and small islands shape the landscape. Possible activities include snorkelling, diving, gentle trekking and wildlife watching. The archipelago offers a different focus for a trip than Jepara’s mainland destinations.
Travel to Karimunjawa usually takes place by ship from Pelabuhan Kartini in Jepara or Pelabuhan Tanjung Emas in Semarang. The crossing takes an average of around 3–4 hours by Siginjai ferry, Express Bahari speedboat or Pelni ship; the vessel type and weather conditions affect the duration. If the islands are the focus of your trip, bear this crossing in mind when choosing where to stay.
Pulau Panjang offers another island experience: visitors can explore the island on foot along a circular route. Its central tropical forest provides a resting and breeding ground for seabirds. Pulau Panjang is a 10-minute trip by excursion boat from the tourist jetties at Pantai Kartini or Pantai Bandengan.
Crafts and History in Jepara
Desa Mulyoharjo, around 2 kilometres from the centre of Jepara city, is home to a centre for Jepara woodcarving. The distinctive carving tradition of Kabupaten Jepara in Central Java is internationally renowned. Tenun Troso also tells a story of local craftsmanship: in Desa Troso, Kecamatan Pecangaan, a community of artisans makes traditional ikat textiles. The fabric is produced on non-mechanical looms using the ikat technique and features a wide variety of patterns. From Jepara Terminal, take public transport to Pecangaan first, then continue to Desa Troso by ojek or local village transport.
The RA Kartini Museum preserves historical and cultural objects relating to the life of R.A. Kartini and Jepara’s local history. Its collections are arranged in themed rooms, including the Kartini Room, the Old Jepara Room, the Dar Oes-Salam Room and a room devoted to crafts. The museum is on Jalan Kartini in Panggang I, Kecamatan Jepara, immediately north of Jepara’s town square.
Masjid Mantingan is also part of Jepara’s history: Ratu Kalinyamat had it built in 1559, or in the year 1481 Saka. Benteng Portugis in Desa Banyumani, Kecamatan Donorejo, was built in 1632 by the Mataram Kingdom under Sultan Agung Hanyokrokusumo in collaboration with the Portuguese, who were then in conflict with the Dutch VOC. Visitors can fish, trek and camp there. Klenteng Hian Thian Siang Tee houses five Kimsin, or statues of deities. The statue of the temple’s presiding deity, Kong Co Hian Thian Siang Tee, also known as the god of healing, was brought directly from China; other statues mentioned include Kong Co Kwan Tee Kun and Khong Hu Cu.
Beaches, Excursions and Nature Inland
Pantai Bandengan has white sand and clear water; activities offered there include banana boat rides, ATVs, canoes and excursion boats. Pantai Empu Rancak also has white sand. Its gently sloping beach and calm surf make it a family-friendly excursion destination; a variety of seafood dishes are also served there. If you are planning beach days like these, you can take Jepara’s coastal destinations into account when choosing the right place to stay.
Kura-Kura Ocean Park has a large aquarium with sharks, hawksbill turtles, rays, Giant Trevally, snappers, groupers, pufferfish and other fish species. A touch pool contains freshwater fish, mainly tame turtles that visitors are allowed to touch. Jepara Ourland Park has 36 water slides, covers 11 hectares and can accommodate up to 20,000 visitors.
Those seeking a landscape shaped by hills, rice fields, waterfalls and rivers rather than coast and islands will find these features in Desa Wisata Tempur in Kecamatan Keling. Coffee is one of the area’s local natural products. After river tubing on the Kali Tempur, visitors can enjoy a cup of distinctive Tempur coffee. Air Terjun Songgolangit is 80 metres high and 2 metres wide; numerous colourful butterflies can be found in the surrounding area.
For a more specific choice of location, you can also consider Pelang 1 and Jepara.
For the broader travel overview: Central Java.
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